Arts center · Washington, DC, United States · 1 program
Fifteen winning artists are selected by a jury of industry professionals. Each winning artist receives a $3,000 financial stipend and has one of their submitted pieces selected for an exhibit in Washington, D.C. Winning artists must participate in the entirety of the professional development activities — virtually (April 3, May 1, June 5) and in-person in Washington, D.C. June 14-18, 2027 — to receive their financial stipend.
Accessibility
To request an accommodation or receive the application materials in an alternate format, contact Wynsor Taylor, WRTaylor@kennedy-center.org no later than Friday, October 30, 2026.
Requirements
Submit images or videos of at least three different pieces (images min 0/max 5, video min 0/max 5, total min 3/max 5). Answer all application questions within the word count limits: Tell us about yourself. What do we need to know about you? (300 words); Tell us about your art. What is your artistic process?
How/why do you create? (300 words); What unique perspective would you bring to the group? (300 words); What are your future plans? How would this program help you achieve your goals? (300 words).
Artists must submit images of multiple works of art rather than multiple views of a single work of art. 2-Dimensional artwork cannot exceed 60 inches in height or width; 3-Dimensional artwork cannot exceed 48 inches in any direction when packed for shipping.
Artist must be between the ages of 16 and 25 on November 19, 2026 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET). Artist must reside in the United States and have the right to work in the United States (includes 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Northern Marianas Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and U.S. Virgin Islands). Artist must have a documented disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and must be willing to publicly disclose that they have a disability for all materials and public appearances associated with the program. Artist must be available to participate in virtual activities (April 3, May 1, June 5) and in-person activities in Washington, D.C. June 14-18, 2027. Selected applicants will be asked to submit documents proving eligibility (proof of disability, proof of age, proof of US right to work) prior to advancing to the final round of adjudication. Submitted artwork must be completed within the last 3 years, and after the onset of disability. Previous Emerging Young Artist Program award winners are not eligible to apply. Submitted artwork must be able to withstand handling, storage, and transportation to/from Washington, D.C. Artwork containing perishable materials, such as food, will not be considered. Applicant must be the sole creator and owner of all artwork submitted; group projects will not be considered. Work that suggests visual plagiarism will not be considered. Artwork created with generative AI is not eligible for selection; non-generative AI tools (e.g., spellcheck) may be utilized, but the artwork must be your own original creation. Submission limit: 20.